(MOJO) as in Mobile Journalism.
I recently started my new Blog: My road to recovery, sharing my experience as a Canadian Veteran in the Former Yugoslavia and Somalia and Gulf War. My recovery from PTSD and I will share some of my talks with the dedicate people helping me getting thru 24 years of hidden emotions.

Saturday, 17 December 2011

I'm back.
After pending over 400 hours editing a three part Documentary, i am back on the blog.
I want to share portion of the Doc with you by posting all the images that were used on the documentary on Gaétane, my mother.

Wednesday, 12 October 2011

Being tired loosing expensive Wind Socks for your RF Microphones during a field shoot?
But you need them no matter what. I make a couple before going out on location shoots

When shooting video outside on location, you have to deal with Wind hitting the RF mic. After loosing a couple of Wind socks during a field exercise, I can up with a temporary solution, one that i'd like to share with you.

Make incision from the bottom to the middle of the cut foam, Wrap the foam around the Mic, Secure the temp Wind sock with Robber Band. Leave room for the Lapel Clip. Use a pair of scissors to round up the extra foam. I used a Sharpie Black Permanent and run it against the rubber bands to make the yellow go away.
I am working on getting a Temporary Lapel Clip build from Gator clip, paper clip etc, will post soon.

Monday, 10 October 2011

I have received an email from RØDE and they were aware of the problem with the Cold Shoe not fitting correctly and have since then fixed the problem. They are offering to ship replacements shoe that will do the job. Simply contact them via their web site. I received a positive reply from them within 24 hours. Another good story that ends well.

Friday, 7 October 2011

We just got our new Rode X/Y On Camera Mics and the Hot-shoe has a problem where we'll need to take a file to it in order to make it fit on the OwlePhoto:*a. I have tried unsuccessfully to fit the Mic on my own Canon 5D MkII and as well on a Nikon D-7000. It has to do with the way the Hot-shoe was made on the Microphone Photo: *b

Please don't take me wrong, I have use the RØDE in the past and i am very satisfied with the results (audio wise) the fitting on the camera/device is where the problem is.Photo: *b
I have shot a few pics to show the problem area of the mount. in photo a) & c) , the Mic barely fits in as its catching and blocking the entry.

a) b)

c)

I will post solution as soon as our team of dedicated Geeks figures this on out.

Tuesday, 4 October 2011

I was searching for a Dead Arm last week for last week end Cork Twist-cap challenge(or just another good reason to drink wine!) and I was actually surprise to see the price differences between Canadian provinces. Some provincial liquor Board are also just too hard to find online. Once in a while I'll post some interesting findings as far as Wine prices. You'll say "well, I never spend more then 12.00 on a bottle of wine" fine by me mate, I'd like to pay $12 for a Calon-Segur or a COS, but this will never happened.

Found at SAQ in Quebec, Canada:

-Shiraz d'Arenberg The Dead Arm McLaren Vale 2007 : 51,50 $

Found at LCBO Ontario, Canada

Shiraz d'Arenberg The Dead Arm McLaren Vale 2007 : $54.95

Found at BC Liquor Board, BC Canada:

Shiraz d'Arenberg The Dead Arm McLaren Vale 2007: $69.99

The moral of this story, If you live in Ottawa, cross the Bridge and get it in QC.

* I did not find the Dead Arm in Alberta, I remember visiting a awesome wine Boutique at Calgary Airport a few years back.

** all prices are in Canadian Dollar

Monday, 3 October 2011

I've been reading warning' on wine label recently. And i am wondering if the Sulfite has contributed to the itching nose, hot ear and scratchy eyes that I get when i Drink wine with too much Sulfite in it. This is what I found when researching about it:

Wine

Sulfites occur naturally in all winesto some extent. Sulfites are commonly introduced to arrest fermentation at a desired time, and may also be added to wine as preservatives to prevent spoilage and oxidation at several stages of the winemaking. Sulfur dioxide (SO2, sulfur with two atoms of oxygen) protects wine from not only oxidation, but also bacteria. Without sulfur, grape juice would turn to vinegar.
Organic wines are not necessarily sulfite-free. In general, sweet (dessert) wines contain more sulfites than dry wines, and white wines contain more sulfites than red wines.
In the United States, wines bottled after mid-1987 must have a label stating that they contain sulfites if they contain more than 10 parts per million In the European Union an Equivalent reg came into effect in 2005.
Maybe I'm simply allergic to Sulfites found in wine, if its the case, I'll take my chances and keep drinking red wine

Sunday, 2 October 2011

Well it wasn't an easy one.. sort of speak. Well all got pretty Corked.. Juss Sayin'

The results: Remember it was about Cork vs Twist-cap: We have a tie
- Both Cork and twist-cap did what they were supposed to do and did not damage, alter, change in any way the taste, quality of both wine tasted.

All six participent all agreed that the cork was harder to remove from the bottle then the Twist-cap but had preserved the wine magnificently.
The twist-cap was a no brainer to open.
Once opened both wine were served from a Decanter that had gone thru the *Venturi wine aerator.

The taste test:
-The Dead Arm 2007 Wine had more structure with a heavier taste at first, dried and locked its flavor in mouth for a good 20 seconds +. Not too acid (noted by taster #2) after 20 minutes of Oxidation in the decanter the Dead Arm, evolved to a new level and became much smother to drink, with hints of dark chocolate and licorice. This bad boy could use 5 years in cellar. Chris on MOJO Score: 93/100

- The St-Henri 2006, is well balance and did not evolved or change taste during the testing. Slightly lighter to drink at the beginning compare to the other wine tasted, the St-Henri is a more delicate wine smoother, with short time on mouth.Did not evolved and stay very stable while it lasted. Chris on MOJO Score: 90/100

The winner: all 6 agreed that the Dead arm was a hell of a wine. If you are wondering why its called *Dead Arm, check on Wikipedia.

Sunday, 11 September 2011

I want to gather 911 testimony from Canadians that will tell me on Web Cam what they were doing and where when the world changed. Let me know and i will contact you on Skype or Facetime
This Video document will be posted later on YouTube and on this Chris on MOJO Blog
Christian C

For those who know me, everytime I write the letter 'B' means Bruins.. not today.
I had to postpone the tasting of the White from Domaine du Ridge, that will be next week-end.
I had a round a Golf yesterday that turned to a Beer call, That turned to a dinner at friends place. No worries, this guy didn't drink and Drive!

So to redeem myself i went to see a Jr High School football game. The Tigres of Buckingam Qc, Visiting the Jaguars of Poly Érablière de Gatineau. The Jags won 21-11. I took my Canon 5D mkII and did a few shots with the 300mm.

Thursday, 8 September 2011

Returned from the Eastern Township of QC with a few bottles of wine from Domaine du Ridge.
I will try the Vent D'ouest this week-end. When tasted at the Domaine, missing were Oysters, cheese, Smoke salmon and french bread. I will give you my impression on it. Stay tuned..

Sunday, 28 August 2011

Looks like we are heading to Bromont QC, area next week to visit father in law and zip down south of there to visit a few winneries.
I will likely post a little MOJO after the visits.

Speaking of wine, *Piedmont before Bromont... i'm juss sayin'
I had this bad boy Friday night. It was great, multi level not so fruity with a taste of Vanilla, Dark Chocolate. Ayways, so good that i went back Sunday to get all there was left on the rack, managed to pick up five bottles.
The MonPrà contains: 45% Nebbiolo, 45% Barbera, 10% Cabernet SauvignonRed ears, itching eyes Sulfite allergic reaction: 0% Chris on MOJO Score: 90 / 100 (this includes all the winnos that tasted the wine that evening)

Friday, 26 August 2011

Hi folks,
A few months back I needed to create an interactive Quiz that could be inserted on a DVD as a "extra content"
After looking for templates online (the free stuff) I spoke to my 'oll bud Matt Davis, aka: Matt the Wizz
He created a Script and template with DVD Studio Pro. It links all the Quiz answers (right or wrong) together to make a final count and send the viewer back to the main menu of the DVD/Blue-ray when conpleted. So far so good, I will see if I can post the template somehow for anyone to use on their video project.

Thursday, 25 August 2011

Well I visited my mother in Rouyn-Noranda over the past week-end and had the oportunity to play 2 rounds of golf with her, Aime and Lyne.

On Saturday we left Rouyn-Noranda for Malartic to visit the new open pit Gold mine. In order to get the mine going, Osisko Mine moved over 150 houses and relocated them in a newly build sector of the town. they did in my opinion a very good job. Fact is the residential sector has nerver look better in the 20 odd years that I lived there. I got to video with the MOJO (Mobile Journalism) Hope you will enjoy.

Note to self: Next time they tell me that they are fully booked and there is no way to get access, bring the whole kit anyways: sticks, mic, monopod

Wednesday, 17 August 2011

I'm going on the road again. This time i'm off to my birthplace : Malartic QC
The town has boomed in the past 4 years, it's totally insane. They discoverred that the there is a huge amount of gold to be mined just under the town of 4k peeps. So www.Osisko.com started to move houses out of their spot (Giving a very healthy compensation to the owners) and since the month of May they have been pumping out gold from this open pit mine.
I hope that i can with my Mobile Journalism gear (MOJO) show you the mine and what has happended since i left some 37 years ago.
More to follow

Sunday, 7 August 2011

First and foremost, i am not endorsing the software developer but simply thank them for its easyness of use.
http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

So while traveling i came across a QR Code in a newspaper and i had to see where i could read what it was hiding inside ;-)
I first downloaded the QR Scan App from i-tunes for free ( as it should be)
once installed, i started the Scan App and pointed my i-Touch (or i-Phone) at the QR code in the paper and right away it opened the Web site with more information on the product. Great stuff..

But what about me, how could i use a QR Code ??
Well, I'm getting my Business cards remade with a QR Code in the back so that when i distribute my card at a conference they can see my info web page contact etc right away. I also got the Idea from my good friend and new media instructor at DPALC (Guy Paquette) to place my QR Code on my Power Point so that people can point directly at the screen to scan the QR Code and get redirected to the posted power point online, therefore no more " you have a memory stick i could borrow.."

Just returned from Quebec City. I used my MOJO (Mobile Journalism) and i-Touch as second camera to do an interview with a 99 years old Nun that tough my mother at the Convent St-Joseph de St-Vallier from 1949 to 1950. I've never seen anyone that age that was Sooo Sharp, she could spot mother on a group photo taken in 1951.. imagine that.
I'm looking forward to finish this Documentary/life Biography of my mother. I can't reveal too much as a portion of the Documentary are secrets to my mother and since she has a computer, she can see my blog. I expect o release the Documentary on line and on DVD for family only around October.. for the first version anyways.

Wednesday, 22 June 2011

Got back from Boston Sunday evening. The flight from Ottawa/Boston is just under 1 hour and very convenient. During our 24 hours stint in B-Town, i had enough time to see with m very own eyes the statue of Bobby Orr and also the statue of Paul Revere.. another great man that certainly left his mark in this beautiful town. We walk for a good 5, 6 hours like tourist to see many interesting sites, I had to make a draft stop at Cheers, then up the Avenue at the Mass Governor, I will return for a visit that is for sure. We took a few rides on the train as well as I don't recommend the use of you car here. Parking is a nightmare so forget about it.
Overall very friendly people and it is great to see a society that take pride in fitness, must be because of the amount of hills that need to be climbed everyday or the fact that the only transportation students can afford if their running shoes.
The following is a video of the Boston Bruins Cup parade shot with a i-Phone using the Vericorder Video editing App: